Volunteers across our sites including Brookfield Farm were delighted to be reunited recently after time away during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Brookfield Farm is one of The Donkey Sanctuary’s eight farms, which provide a refuge for rescued and relinquished donkeys. The farm in Devon is home to almost 300 donkeys and mules, as well as a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital.
As well as providing a home for its herds, Brookfield Farm offers training and preparation to donkeys who are deemed suitable for rehoming or donkey-assisted activities.
Volunteers at the farm are involved in all aspects of its running, however because of the Covid-19 pandemic, volunteers across all our sites have been unable to continue their in-person volunteering roles.
Volunteers Angie, Clairedy, Joyce, Julie, Julie and Paul had found it hard being away from their beloved donkeys at Brookfield Farm but were delighted to receive the call from Volunteer Supervisor Helen that they could return.
The crew of volunteers made sure to keep in touch with each other virtually while they were unable to be together on site, using a WhatsApp group to talk regularly and share their hobbies and interests.
Volunteer Julie says: “As a group, we have been grooming together for some years but it feels like we have got to know each other more in lockdown than ever before.
Volunteers at The Donkey Sanctuary come from all walks of life. “Apart from donkeys our interests are varied – hiking, book writing, upholstery, military planes and vehicles, and cycling - but of course we are all mad on animals and our pets.”
Now that the group have returned to their regular duties, they’re able to reflect on what their time away from the farm has meant for them as a team, and what it means to be back.
“It’s been important for our wellbeing to keep in touch, and we will continue to do so, perhaps less frequently, as we can now catch up and reacquaint ourselves with our lovely donkeys (and the staff, of course), who we have missed so much.”
